Today in World War II

[RSS Bot]

1940 - German Luftwaffe begins night bombing on London
1942 - 1st US flights to land on Guadalcanal
1942 - Battle of Stalingrad: 600 Luftwaffers bomb Stalingrad (40,000 die)
1944 - Allied troops capture Marseilles France
1944 - General George Leclercs troops advance towards Paris
1944 - General Montgomery consults with Generals Bradley/Eisenhower
1944 - King Michael of Romania ordered his forces to cease fire against Allies & dismissed the pro-Axis premier, Marshal Ion Antonescu
1944 - Romania liberated from Nazi occupation (National Day)
1944 - US 20th Army corp enter Fontainebleau/Melun de Seine
1944 - US B-24 crashes into school in Freckelton England, 76 killed

From http://www.famousfoto.com/history/ww2/

[Hobilar]

Originally Posted by RSS Bot

1940 - German Luftwaffe begins night bombing on London

My sources sayu this was on the 24th August

23 August 1942: German XIV Panzer Corps reaches Stalingrad,

23 August 1943: Russians recapture Kharkov. Huge crowds in Moscow celebrate.

23 August 1944 - (King Michael of Romania ordered his forces to cease fire against Allies & dismissed the pro-Axis premier, Marshal Ion Antonescubucharest) Germans bomb Bucharest in retaliation.

[temujin77]

Today in 1883 is the late General Jonathan Wainwright's birthday. Wainwright dutifully led the American contingent at Bataan even knowing he could not win the fight. He was eventually defeated and imprisoned in Manchuria. He was released in the final days of the war, and was present on USS Missouri for the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.

WW2DB: Jonathan Wainwright

Happy birthday general! We have not forgotten you.

[Jim O]

He was more or less "left behind" to be taken prisoner when MacArthur was ordered to leave.

[temujin77]

True that Wainwright might not really had a choice, but he performed his duties as a soldier valiantly and professionally. "I'll be Bataan if I'm alive", he told MacArthur as he said goodbye, and fought until his men were essentially out of food and ammunition. Yes, it might had been dictated by the circumstances, but if what he did was not considered bravery and professionalism, I don't know what is!

Perhaps I'm a bit biased due to my liking for MacArthur, who's a controversial figure to begin with. Nevertheless, Wainwright is just a big a hero in my eyes

[Jim O]

I agree with everything that you said. I was merely commenting that he was essentially left as the sacrificial lamb when MacArthur was ordered to leave. MacArthur had no choice in the matter. He was a soldier following orders whether he agreed with them or not. General Wainright suffered through 3+ years of captivity and earned all the accolades he received, including the Medal of Honor.